Thursday, July 24, 2008
Alabama returns everyone..and adds a knockout puncher
This is the 2008 NCAA South Region Cross Country blog. I have hijacked this from Tim Goldsack, who is no longer allowed to do it as he would have a very biased opinion as he works for Joe Walker at Alabama (I'm going out on a limb here to say they will be heavily favored to repeat as region champs this year, although I won't officially make that prediction for a few blogs). So he is disqualified from his South Region blogging responsibilities. However I nominate him to take over the Mid-Atlantic region blog.
This first posting is a men's posting (women's next week) and is a run down of how last year ended up, who returns this year and who doesn't. I would love emails at southregionblogger@gmail.com to correct any mistakes or omissions. I know there will be a few! Please don't correct my spelling or grammar as I am from the South and prone to these mistakes.
So here we go, starting with last years top 10 teams
Top Teams 1. Alabama (28) 2.FSU (52)3.Florida(82) 4.Belmont(121) 5. Mississippi State (135) 6. Auburn (152) 7.Georgia (176) 8. Tennessee (178) 9. Georgia Tech (230) 10. Tennessee Chatanooga (291)
and Individuals 1. Kibioywo (Auburn) 2. Bor (alabama) 3. maiyo (Alabama) 4.kirwa (alabama) 5. Gunn (FSU) 6. Kutingala (Alabama) 7. Criscione (Florida) 8.Buckingham (FSU) 9. Tirop (S. Alabama) 10. Gabart (FSU)
Now we go to who returns from last years teams and who doesn't (taking in to consideration graduation only, we will get to rumours of transfers and incoming freshmen in a moment)
****Taking into consideration top 100 finishers at the regional meet
Alabama Returns 2,3,4,6,14 and 65 lost 52
FSU returns 10, 15, 17, 78 and lost 5 and 8
Florida brings back 12 and 35 while losing 16,20,31 and 37
Belmont has 13 27 29 93 and 98 while gone away are 19 and 39
Mississippi State has 25,26 and 40 back in Starkville while 22 and 28 have moved on
Auburn is returning 1 42 50 53 55 and 87 and has 21 leaving
Georgia returns 36 71 75 and graduate 18 32 41 and 62
Tennessee has 24 34 38 44 51 and 70 back
Georgia Tech 57 77 81 and 91 all return while 11 and 30 while not be Yellow Jackets this fall
Tennessee Chattanooga returns 76 and 83 and loses 23 59 and 85
So now this is where we can have some fun. I want your help with this as I am not all knowing and omnipotent so I may here some gossip on who is transferring for whatever reason (love, coaching, the inability to read or write) and I did read Dyestat to see which high school kids signed where) I am missing out on some things for sure. Email me at southregionblogger@gmail.com to give me the goods. I will then pass on the information and claim it as mine!
Alabama added a gem this past January in Tyson David, I'm sure you have come across his name in results. All he did was set the SEC 10,000m record in like 28:20 and then finish third at the NCAA champs in the same event. This cat is good! Not sure if it's true or not but I also heard they may have signed Girma Mesecho (I also heard Arkansas and Georgia)
Florida State signed a good one in Mike Fout, you know the footlocker champ. I know Bob is happy about this because I saw the picture of him giving the kid a bear hug after he won footlocker (the pic with that big ncaa championship ring that is almost as big as his smile!). Now rumour also has it Mark Buckingham may have another year of eligibility but I also heard he has a navicular stress fracture.
Florida now I have heard nothing except a 9:05 2 miler type out of Pennsylvania. Don't know much about him but I am sure he will like the winters better in the south
Belmont well honestly, I know nothing (help me out here ok)
Mississippi State, the news here is not good for them as Ben Blankenship has decided to pack it in and head back to Minnesota. I'm sure they added someone because Dudley works his butt off and always gets a few kids
Auburn has done well for themselves from what I hear. In January they added Jean-Pierre Weerts who ran 13:55 for them, Dyestat says they added Elkanah Kibet who was very good as a JUCO athelte, actually beating Tyson David in the fall and winning the JUCO 10,000. I have heard a rumour about an aussie as well
Georgia better have signed Girma because I don't think they have anyone else
Tennessee added Joe Franklin and Chris Bodary both had very good high school seasons and these guys will develop well under Coach Watts
Georgia Tech are bringing on board a bunch of kids who will become engineers later in life and Tennessee Chattanooga has?
So that is it for this week send me info on transfers and recruits to southregionblogger@gmail.com
later
Not Tim Goldsack
# posted by southregionblogger : 1:42 PM
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